MAGAZINE ARCHIVES

How to invest in Rajiv Gandhi Equity Saving Scheme

If you are an Indian resident, earn less than Rs 10 lakh a year and have not done any equity transactions before 23 November 2012, then you are eligible for investing under the Rajiv Gandhi Equity Savings Scheme (RGESS).

Under this scheme, first-time equity investors can invest up to Rs 50,000 in approved stocks and mutual funds and claim income tax deduction on 50 per cent of the amount under Section 80 CCG of the Income Tax Act. This is over and above the Rs 1 lakh limit under Section 80 C.

HOW TO INVEST:To be eligible for investment under this scheme, you must open a demat account and designate the demat account for RGESS by submitting the duly signed 'Form A', which is available with brokerage houses.

Eligible ETFs

Birla Sun Life Nifty ETF

Goldman Sachs Banking Index Exchange Traded Scheme

Goldman Sachs Nifty Exchange Traded Scheme

Goldman Sachs Nifty Junior Exchange Traded Scheme

Goldman Sachs S&P CNX Nifty Shariah Index Exchange Traded Scheme

IIFL NIFTY ETF

Kotak Nifty ETF

Motilal Oswal MOSt shares M50 ETF

Quantum Index Fund

R*Shares Banking Exchange Traded Fund

Religare Nifty Exchange Traded Fund

Kotak Sensex ETF

You can invest in any of the eligible mutual funds or stocks in lump sum or in installments during the year in which the deduction is to be claimed. Though any amount can be invested through the demat account, tax benefit will be available only on an investment of up to Rs 50,000.

The investments under the scheme would automatically be subject to lock-in during the first year. From second year onwards, you can sell the units of securities if you maintain the minimum amount for which you have claimed income tax benefit. Failing to do so will lead to reversal of the tax benefit availed.

The tax benefit under RGESS is available only for one year. If an investor has claimed a deduction once, he will not be allowed any deduction under the scheme in subsequent years.

One can invest in non-RGESS stocks and mutual funds through the same demat account and those investments would not be subject to conditions such as the lock-in of the scheme.

If you invest on the last trading day of the financial year, you get a three-day grace period so that the securities get credited in the demat account and you can avail tax benefit under the scheme.

ELIGIBLE SECURITIES UNDER RAJIV GANDHI EQUITY SAVINGS SCHEME

A. Equity shares, which are part of BSE 100 and CNX 100 indices, on the day of purchaseB. Equity shares of public sector enterprises which are categorised as Maharatna, Navratna or MiniratnaC. Units of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) or Mutual Fund (MF) schemes with RGESS-eligible securities as underlyingD. Follow on public offer of point A and B aboveE. New fund offers (NFOs) of point C aboveF. Initial public offer of a public sector company in which the government holds at least 51 per cent stake and whose annual turnover is not less than Rs 4,000 crore in the preceding three years